With a dozen or so games and practices on the schedule every week, it’s a minor miracle that everyone in the house gets where they need to go. Sometimes it feels like we’re running a logistical operation on par with UPS. I’m sure at some point we’ve ended up at the wrong rink or had the wrong time for practice but those instances are very few and far between thanks to a great overall team effort and the use of our decidedly low tech but extremely efficient dry erase calendar.

My kids are heading back to school next week and I am doing the happy dance. For one thing, that’s seven hours a day that they won’t have access to the fridge. Plus, I won’t be the only one getting up at the butt crack of dawn. (Misery loves company.) But that joy will be short-lived because it also means the craziness of daily life is about to get a lot crazier. You can keep it from spinning out of control with a little planning. As the late, great John Wooden said, “Failing to prepare is preparing to fail.” So, what are you waiting for? It’s time to get crackalackin’!

Develop a plan

Pregame plan of attack
The first thing to do is to draft a plan of attack because the time to prepare for success is now. So, gather up all the information you can get your hands on–the game and practice schedule, contact lists, school calendar, important family dates–grab your planner and map out victory with these tips.